DCSD in the News – July 2014

Letter to the editor: School buildings’ needs deserve attention — 7/28/14 (Highlands Ranch Herald)
It is quite obvious that our aging schools need work. It is no different than homeowners needing to do repairs to their homes such as replacing a water heater, a furnace or air conditioner, etc. to maintain certain standards.

Union president’s address creates debate — 7/28/14 (Lone Tree Voice)
An invitation to the teachers’ union president to address a local Republican Party-based monthly breakfast sparked dissension among some of the group’s regular attendees. Some members refused to attend Courtney Smith’s July 25 address to the Highlands Club.

Board adopts resolution on lunch opt-out — 7/25/14 (Lone Tree Voice)
The Douglas County School Board has adopted a resolution on its suspension of district high schools from the National School Lunch Program.

High schools drop out of federal lunch program — 7/25/14 (Lone Tree Voice)
The Douglas County School District is opting its high schools out of the 2014-15 National School Lunch Program, citing concerns about the stringent level of the program’s newest nutritional requirements. By not accepting the federal funds provided through the program, DCSD does not have to adhere to the standards.

Boettcher honors four local teachers — 7/16/2014 (Highlands Ranch Herald)
Four Douglas County School District teachers are among 40 statewide recognized by the Boettcher Foundation for their impact on students.

Schools’ chef leads multifaceted life — 7/14/14 (Highlands Ranch Herald)
Chef Jason Morse leads a double life. While many know him as the Douglas County School District’s executive chef, Morse is a savvy business owner who created and markets his own line of spices and caramels, works as a consultant to other schools, hotels, restaurants and food service entities, runs a catering business and teaches college classes.

McMinimee describes rocky road to becoming Jeffco’s superintendent — 7/13/2014 (Denver Post)
GOLDEN — Jefferson County Schools then-superintendent finalist Dan McMinimee sat impassively at school board meetings last spring as audience members inveighed against him, shouting out that he was unqualified to lead the state’s second-largest school district.

Few punishments for those who fail to report abuse — 7/5/2014 (Denver Post)
Investigators would have found numerous inappropriate photos of a 13-year-old girl posted on the walls of her math teacher’s office, but administrators at her Douglas County school never called them.

State pilot project allows funding to follow students — 7/4/2014 (Denver Post)
(Guest Commentary) Colorado schools are seen as innovators by the rest of the country for progressive education policies. Unfortunately, the state’s funding-allocation guidelines haven’t kept pace with the rate at which our state is innovating and creating new education models.

STEM school founders launching new project — 7/3/2014 (Highlands Ranch Herald)
The founders of Highlands Ranch’s STEM School and Academy are holding a series of informational meetings about a planned new sixth- through 12th-grade charter school. The proposed Alexandria School of Innovation will be, one founder believes, the culmination of all they’ve done so far.

Two speakers in accord against Common Core — 7/1/2014 (Highlands Ranch Herald)
Two opponents of the Common Core standards spoke during the June 27 meeting of the Highlands Club, a group of Highlands Ranch Republicans that meet monthly for breakfast. Pueblo resident Anita Stapleton and Douglas County School Board member Craig Richardson shared their mutual distaste for the standards, but clashed on issues specific to DCSD.